Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-07-07
GENERAL JOHN A. LOGAN.
Life and Character of the Great
Soldier and Statesman.
An Admirable Address DELIVERED by Hon.
Clark 10. Carr, OF Galcsburg. Ill,
ut Woodstock, Connecticut
July 4, 1887.

IutIo HAS HtNayS DcCn U ulbpOSlLtOu IN Oiu
communities 10 think lightly OF the new. In
the midst OF great libraries and venerable in.
stitutions OF learning, giving opportunities of
the highest education and culture, IL is natural
perhaps, for those who enjoy their advantages,
10 assume that among them mon must rise 20
q higher development than is possible upon
the frontier. This is o mistake. While there
are exceptions the reverse Is the rule.
In old, fixed, established communities,
there can be no such general breadth OF
character as among pioneers. After CON-
munity has become old and established, 1t Is
absorbed with its own domestic concerns, and
the round OF ordinary duties makes up its
world OF life and thought. Pioneers bring TO
the communities they establish the experience,
the inspiration and the wisdom OF all the COM
munities that sent them forth. Such q COLOSSAL
character az Abraaann Lfnoskn cuula no moro
have .been evolved from either one OF the
original States OF the Republfc, than the
Father OF Waters could have been produced to
move on forever in majesty and grandeur, by
the confluence OF her brooks and rivulets.
II was a matter OF wonder md astonishment
that the great statesmen and oRators and the
mightiest generals of the generation, now rap
idly passing away, came from beyond the Ale
ghanies. 1t was because those great characters
spent most OF their lfvpe in communities drawn
together from all the older States, and from the
countries OF Europe, and in their daily duties,
IN their walks and conversations were schooled
and stimulated by influences from the whole
civilized world
John A. Logan was born and reared in pio-
neer community. His father, Dr. John Logan,
was Scotch-Irish, born in the north Of Ireland,
whence the family removed TO Maryland, thence
20 Ohio, in which State he spent most OF his
young life until he was grown up TO manhood.
While young man he Travelled considerably
through the then western wilderness, making
occasional trips down the Mississippi 70 New
-
eminent in his profession. Mrs.. General Logan
writes Of him: Father Logan was one OF ma
lures truest noblemen, beloved BY all who knew
him, as impulsivc as possible for an Irishman
10 be, and as fearless Is lion"
General Logan's mother, Elisabeth Jenkins,
was born in North Carolina, and she family re-
moved first to Tennessee, and finally 20 Illinois.
The family was prominent in public affairs, her
brother at one time being Lieutenant-Governor
OF Illinois. Mrs. Logan writes OF her: Mother
Logan was q reserved and diguifiod woman, OF
steSiing character and courage, and untiring in
oustrE" and adas, "I-hey were the finest types
OF pioneers in the early settlement OF Southern
Illinois, both having the most exalted ideas OF
the duties OF life and the advancement OF soci-
ETY. and education. Both were Methodists
Their experiences In their efforts to establish
schools, build churches, and 10 foster every
thing OF a civilfzing character were most inter
esting."
IL was 10 MS 1iEnlanu pfOOut fnner1tcQ from
his father, that John A. Logan owed that i'm
pctuous vehemence, that rspidity OF thought,
swifter than any tongue could find words to en-
psoss, which produced magnetic effect upon
his hearers. HIS emotional, flowing, picturesque
style, so frequently denominated as western"
BY those who got their ideas Of eloquenee from
text books, was in reality an inheritance from
generations Of his ancestors, who had lived be-
fore America was discovered.
was horn at MnrT,fvs horn IaeIxaon Toun.
ty. H., on the 9th OF February, 1925 As he
grew up to manhood, men of his age ITO the
manor Born" were so rare, that TO be q native
ninoisan was in itself distinction He was
always proud, even vain, OF this distinction,
and did not hesitate to speak of it smong those
with whom no associated.
The home Of the Logans, in jackson County,
was an exceptional old-fashioned, hospitable
place OF resort and entertainment to which the
people OF the neighborhood, and strangers seek
ing place OF location, frequently repaired In
the assembly gathered around the. great fire.
side, every question OF public interest was dis
cusSed, and those who took part in the dis
cussions sometimes represented as many
States as there were individuals. Among
those early pioneers there were men who had
taken part in the organization OF the Territory.
men who had been engaged upon each side OF q
bitter contest upon the question OF establish
ing slavery in Illinois, men who were actively
thousand questions OF interest in organizing
and developing q new commonwealth
There were constant accessions 70 their
number; always q new face; plenty OF
tales OF hardship, and trial, and privation
and courage. There were accounts
OF the splendors OF the old-settled countries
news of new settlements, OF the developing OF
new towns, Of the opening Of new farms the
wisdom Of the old engrafted upon the hope and
enterprise OF the new. The home OF the Lo-
gans was only short distance from the Mis-
sissippi, upon whose bosom floated 10 New Or
leans and To the sea most Of the commerce Of
the new State, until John A. Logan was thirty
years old. It is natural that he should have
appreciated tho Importance to Illinois and to
the people OF the Northwest Of keeping open
this great artery OF trade.
Those early settlers did not read many booka
and some could not read at ALL yet they we're,
strange as II may appear TO cars polite, better
informed in the history and traditions Of our
country than the average citizen OF the older
communities. An American pioneer is natural
ly an enquirer. Every question Of public in
terest was discussed In public meetings, the
champions dividing the time and meeting each
other face TO face, and il was the privilege and
custom Of the hearers 70 interrupt the speaker
at viii with questions, and woe 70 the man who,
attempting to instruct HIS followers IN a public
address, was not ready with satisfactory an
swer. These public me-tngs afforded topics
for discussion at home, and as there was little
else 70 interest them, the people gave their
thoughts 10 these questions, and so became in
formed in the history, traditions and politics Of
their country.
The influence OF religion and Of stated preach
ing OF the Gospel in a new country can not be
over estimated In those days the eiergymen
were not learned in scholastic lore, but very
few, who have since been able TO place titles to
their names, can quote SO much scripture
While the sermons were rude, when subjected
schools, there was statekness and sublimity
about them, drawn from the poetry and im-